Lever Connector Cam Plate Structure for Stable Temporary Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors face reliability issues in maintaining the lever at a temporary lock position due to unintended deformation of the elastic piece, which can lead to a deterioration in the lock function.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a plate-shaped cam plate portion with a locking portion that protrudes in the thickness direction and a hole-shaped hollowed portion on the opposite side, allowing the locking portion to be securely locked by the housing at the temporary lock position, preventing excessive deformation and enhancing reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cantilever-shaped elastic piece is used to lock the lever at the temporary lock position, then the lever can be held at the temporary lock position, but the elastic piece may unintentionally deform in reverse direction when caught by foreign objects, deteriorating the lock function
Solution Approach 1:
The cam plate portion is divided into multiple independent functional regions: a locking portion for engaging with the housing at the temporary lock position, and a hole-shaped hollowed portion that segments the plate structure. This segmentation allows the locking portion to maintain its locking function while the hollowed portion provides structural support to prevent unintended deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam plate portion combines a plate-shaped base structure with a hole-shaped hollowed portion to create a composite structure. This composite design provides both the flexibility needed for locking functionality and the structural rigidity to resist unintended deformation from external forces.
2Strength
If the cam plate portion is made with sufficient thickness to prevent deformation, then structural strength is improved, but the ease of manufacture and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing thickness in one dimension, the invention introduces a hole-shaped hollowed portion that extends in the thickness direction at an intermediate portion. This dimensional approach provides structural reinforcement through geometric configuration rather than simply increasing material thickness, maintaining manufacturability while improving strength.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The proposed design improves the reliability of holding the lever at the temporary lock position by preventing excessive deformation of the cam plate portion, ensuring a stable lock function and secure engagement with the partner connector.
Implementation Method 1
The cam plate portion includes, on the inner side of a U-shaped slit, a cantilever-shaped elastic piece, which can elastically deform in a thickness direction.
Data Source
AI summary
A lever 40 has a plate-shaped cam plate portion 42 that is fitted to the partner connector 90, and progresses fitting with the partner connector 90. The cam plate portion 42 includes a locking portion 54 that protrudes from a first end portion 57 in a thickness direction and is locked to a housing 20 at the temporary lock position, and a hole-shaped hollowed portion 56, 56A, 56B, and 56C disposed at an intermediate portion in the thickness direction on an opposite side to the locking portion 54 with respect to the first end portion 57 in the thickness direction.